Apparatus for operating machine tools



Jan. 7, 1947. i K. H. POND 2,413,781

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MACHINE TOOLS Filed April 11, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTIOR.

Jan. 1, 1947, K. H. POND 2,413,781

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MACHINE TOOLS Filed April 11,- 1944 zSheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

MGQM Jan. 7, 1947. K. POND 2,413,781

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MACHINE TOOLS Filed April 11, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented Jan. 7, 194'? APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MACHINE TOOLS Kenneth H.Pond, Longmeadow, Mass, assignor to Pond Engineering Company,Springfield, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 11,1944, Serial No. 530,536

This invention relates to apparatus for operating machine tools.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to apparatus whichis connectable to a machine tool for operating the same. That isoperating the same in substantially the same manner as it is operated byan operator.

In this Way an apparatus of the invention may be connected to a numberof machine tools thereby to make it possible for a single operator toberesponsible for a number of machines instead of one as is the commonpractice.

According to one feature of the invention, the apparatus is of unitaryform so as to be self contained and thereby adapted for connection toany machine tool for operating the same. In this wayflthe apparatus maybe disconnected from one machine and connected to another at will.

According to another novel feature of the invention the apparatus hereofis adapted for connection to and for the operation of existing machinetool's, they not requiring reconstruction since the apparatus isintended to be accommodated to said existing machines. A

According to a further novel feature of the invention, the apparatus isautomatic in its operation so that pieces of work or objectsmay beproduced successively without the intervention of manual'labor. I

The apparatus is adapted for broad application wherever it is desired toproduce successive operations or objects but is particularly adapted fora machine tool where a tool and work holder are relatively movable tobring the work and tool into engagement for successive machiningoperations.

While it is not intended to be so limited, the apparatus is well suitedfor connection to and for the operation of a milling mach ne. A commonform of milling machine has a rotating tool or tools and a table orslide,'which may be called a transporting member, that is provided withwork holding means. Back and forth movements of the transporting memberrelative to the tool or 7 Claims. (01. 21)

machine as described, work is fed to work holding and positioning meansassociated with the transporting member and the control member isactuated to bring about movements of the said transporting means therebyto bring the tool and work into operative relation for successive operations or to produce successive objects. And means is provided inconnection with the apparatus to insure accurate positioning of the workwith'other safety features contributing to the production of uniformobjects or parts or operations.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of theapparatus to adapt it for use in connection with various machinestherefore it is notdesired to be limited to the specific form of theinvention which is hereinafter disclosed in the form at presentpreferred and taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein: a

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of apparatus embodying the novelfeatures of the invention Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view on theline '--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view to explain certain features of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the invention will be morefully explained.

Parts of a machine tool M such as a milling machine are represented bydot-dash lines. The table or bed thereof which may be called atransporting member is represented by Z. This supports work holdingmeans and is movable relative to a bed 5 towards and away from a tool 4which may be a rotatable cutter or cutters. A control member 6 isswingable back and forth to bring about movements of the transportingmember 2. The said control member operates to bring about movement ofthe transporting member forward and back and at the desired speeds orrate of movement.

A supporting structure includes side supports or frame members I ll thatare held in spaced relation by rods l2 secured thereto. Also forming apart of the supporting structure there is a horizontal rod or rods [4fixed in the members I [I to whichbrackets l6 are fixed that have otherhorizontal rods [8 fixed therein. Brackets 26 fixed on horizontal rods[8 have vertical rods 22 fixed therein and other brackets M on the vertical rods have fixed therein other horizontal rods.

The vertical and horizontal rods together with the brackets provide astrong rigid structure and one which is flexible to accommodate variousconditions since the brackets are secured to the rods in any place bymeans of pins, set screws or the like. The rods and brackets may thus bedisposed in any desired relation. The vertical rods or as many as may bedesired thereof may extend to the floor for supporting and steadying thestructure.

Work holding means adapted to be secured to the transporting member 2may include a lower member 30 and an upper member 32 pivoted thereto atM. The upper member swings so as to.

cooperate with the member 30 for engaging and holding work therebetweenor for releasing the same. Work in the illustration of the inventionbeing described consists of a bar of 'metal W. The end portion of thebar of work Wis, err-- gaged and disengaged so that it is presented tothe tool 4 for successive operations or for the forming of successiveobjects therefrom.

A locator 36 is movable up and down relative to the member 32 and isarranged to engage the end of the bar W or to be engaged by 'said barfor locating the end portion of the bar relative to the holding meansand tool 4. I

A lever 38 is pivoted at 40 to the member 32 and has a slotted end forreceiving a pm of the locatorkiwi as shown. Asthe said lever 38 swingsthe locator 36 is moved downwardly to its work locating position andupwardly therefrom.

A cylinder 42 is pivoted to a bracket, as shown, and has a pistontherein, not shown, which carries a rod 4% engaging member 32. As thepiston is operated to move the rod upwardly the member 32 is swungcounterclockwise for clamping and holding the bar of work W.

In the form of the invention being described there are other cylinderssimilar to the cylinder 42 which will be described. These cylinders allhave a piston reciprocable therein so that air under pressure admittedto one end or the other will act on the piston and move it in onedirection. A spring acting on the piston will move it in an oppositedirection. Such will be within the skill of one skilled in the art andneed not be further described.

Such a cylinder is shown at 48 and a piston rod 50 thereof is pivotallyconnected at 52 to lever 38. The rod 50 swings lever 38 counterclockwisefor acting on and operating the work locator 36.

Contacts 54 and 56 are carried by insulating blocks 53 associated withmembers 32.and 38 for a purpose later to be described.

A bracket 68 extends outwardly from the member 30 which has a guide 62on its outer end. This guide 52 receives the work W for guiding it tothe holding means, see Fig. 4. A slide 64 is slidable on the work W andit has a clamp member 65 pivoted thereto that is adapted to frictionallyengage the work W as the slide is moved to the left in Fig. 4 andthereby feed the work towards the work holding and locating means. Asthe slide moves to the right the clamp slides along the work. In thisway by successive movements of the slide '04 back and forth the work isfed to the work holding and locating means in a step by step manner.

A'drive shaft 63 is rotatable in the frames Ii) as is a cam shaft I0. Agear 72 fixed on drive shaft 68 is in mesh with a gear 14 fixed to ashaft I6 journaled in frames I0. Other gears 10 and 80 fixed to theshafts i6 and I respectively provide means in conjunction with the gearsalready 4 described for driving the cam shaft I0 from the drive shaft88.

A pulley 82 loose on drive shaft 68 may be of any form and operablyconnected to any suitable source of power. A gear or sprocket may besubstituted for the pulley and connected to a source of power.

A clutch member 84 is slidable on the shaft 60 and carries a pin 88passing through drive member 82 for engaging a pin 08 on gear '52. Aspring 90 normally urges the clutch member away from "pulley 82.

' A lever 92 is pivoted at 94 to a bracket 95 and has a forked upper endengaging the clutch member 84; 'A collar0 8'on the shaft 63 serves as anabutment for said lever 92. When said lever 92 is swung counterclockwisethe member 84 is moved to the left whereby members 86 and 88 are engagedso that gear I2 is rotated by member 82 to bring about rotation of thecam shaft I0.

A cylinder I00 pivoted to the frame is of the type already described andit has a rod- [02 which passes through lever 92 with a collar .94 on itsend. Movement of the rod I02 to the left brings about swinging of thelever 92, as described for engaging the clutching members 85 and 88.

A rock shaft I04 in the upper ends of the frames I2 is provided on whichan inner lever I06 is fixed. An outer lever I08'is also fixed to saidshaft I04. A rod H0 extends between and is fixed to the upper ends oflevers I08 and I06 on which a member I I2'isslidable. I

A rod II4 connected to member II 2 extends through guide 62 and its endis connected at H6 to clamp 65, previously described (see Fig. 4).

An arm H3 of lever I06 is connected by a rod i251 to the upper end of alever I2I which is journalled on shaft 16. The lower end of level I2Icarries a roll I22 in engagement witha cam I24 fixed on'cam shaft 10.

As cam shaft I0 rotates in each cycle of operation of the apparatus themechanism described operates to feed thejwork W forwardly a certaindistance. The member II2' slides back and w forth on the rod H0 as thetransporting member 2 moves back and forth towards and away from thetool .4.

A spring I23 extends between member I2 and pivotal connection of the rodI20 andlever I2I to yieldingl hold cam roll I22 on its cam.

A clamp: I20 is adapted to be secured to the control lever 6, Aconnecting rod l22 has one end connected at I24 torthe clamp I20 and itsother end is slidable ina bracket 24. A slide L is slidable on the rodI22 and it has a pawl I28 pivoted thereto for engaging a notch in rodI22, as shown in Fig. 1. A magnet I is carried by the slide which whenenergized moves the pawl upwardly.

A cylinder I32 is pivoted to a bracket I34 fixed to a rod 22. and theend of rod I36 thereof is connected to a plate I38 afiixed to said slideI26. As rod I36 is moved to the left in Fig. 1, the slide I25 is movedso that with pawl I28 in the notch of rod I22 the control member '6 isactuated.

A bracket Iis adapted to be secured to the transporting member 2 and ithas a lever I42 pivoted therein at I44. A spring I46 connected at oneend to the lever I42 and at its other end to an eye I48 adapted forattachment to the transporting member 2 urges the lever in acounterclockwise direction.

A rod I pivoted at one end to the lever I 42 is in slidable engagementwith a plate I52 carried by slide I26 and has adjustable thereon spacedcollars I54 and I56.

A pawl I60 swingable on a bracket member I60 is spring pressed towardsthe rod I50 by a spring I64 secured to bracket I60 and it has anoutwardly extending yieldable springlike member I66 which is engageableby a stud I68 adapted to be affixed to the transporting member 2.

The cylinders 42, 48, I00 and I32 are connected by suitable conduits tovalves I80, I82, I84 and I86 which valves are supplied with air from asuitable source by means of a conduit I88.

The valves referred to may take any form desired but in the form of theinvention being disclosed they are what may be called threeway valves.These valves include a body I90, see Fig. 2, in which a closure memberor disc on a stem I82 moves towards and away from a seat. When the discis away from the seat the valve passes air to the cylinder to which itis connected. .A lever I94 pivoted to the body carries a roll I95. Asthe lever I94 swings toward the body the stem is pressed inwardly tomove the disc from off its seat and air passes through the valve to thecylinder. A spring in the valve urges the disc onto its seat so that asthe lever swings outwardly from the body the disc engages its seat tostop the flow of air to the cylinder. The valve is provided with ventmeans so that when the disc is on its seat, pressure between the valveand its cylinder is relieved whereby the piston and its rod may bereturned to its inoperative position.

Each of the valves I80, I82 and I86 are affixed to pairs of levers suchas 200. These levers 200 are swingable at upper ends on the main driveshaft 68 while their lower ends are forked at 202 to straddle a rod 204fixed in frame members I 0. Adjusting screws 206' in the forked ends ofthe members 260 engage opposite sides of the rod 204 so that the lowerends of the levers 200 may be moved back and forth to adjust theposition of the valves and their levers, such as I94, relative to cams206, 208 and 2I0 which are fixed on cam shaft 10.

The cams referred to are so constructed and related as to operate theirrespective valves in the desired timed relation.

The valve I84 for cylinder I00 is supported by rod 26 and its lever I84is engaged for operation of the valve by lever I42.

In operation the machine tool is put in operation and drive member 82 iscontinuously rotated. That is the tool 4 of the machine tool is rotatedwhile the mechanism of the machine tool is set in operation and back andforth movements of the transporting member 2 are under the control ofcontrol member 6.

The transporting member 2 in its rearward position causes lever I42 toactuate valve I84 so that air is supplied the clutch operating cylinderI00. Said cylinder in its operation brings about swinging of lever 92 sothat member 84 is moved inwardly to engage 86 and 88. With drive member82 being in continuous rotation the cam shaft through gears I2, I4 andI8, 80 is now rotated whereby the several cams perform their functions,The member 32 releasing the work W the cams 206 and 268 are operated sothat valves I80 and I82 admit air to cylinders 42 and 48. Previously camI24 acts on lever I2I and through rod I20 and lever I06 the slide 64moves forwardly on the work W with member 66 engaging it to advance thebar towards the holding means.

The locator 36 is operated so as to be engaged by the end portion of thework bar W or to engage said bar and position it relative to the holdingmeans and tool subsequent to which the member 32 is caused to clamp thework between it and member 30 whereby the work W is held for themachining operation as transporting member 2 carries the work to thetool.

Valve I86 is operated by cam 2| 0 so that air is admitted to cylinderI32 the rod I36 of which moves the slide I26 that acts on the controlmember 6. Said control member in its movement brings about movement ofthe transporting member at the desired speed to present the work to thetool for the machining operation. It will be understood that in orderfor the slide to move the rod I22, the pawl I28 must be in the notch ofsaid rod.

The contacts 54 and 56 associated with members 32 and 38 are in acircuit including the mag-- net I30 and a suitable source of energy andfuhc-- tion for the following purpose.

As the lever 38 swings to carry the contact 56' downwardly as it doeswhen the positioner is moved downwardly said contact strikes and passesthe contact 54. However, should movement of the positioner 36 downwardlybe interfered with by jamming of the work or should it for some reasonbe impossible for the positioner to make a complete stroke, the lever 38is stopped so that contacts 54 and 56 are engaged whereby the magnet I30is energized to pull pawl I28 upwardly. Then slide I26 moves forwardlywithout moving said rod I22. In this way control lever 6 is not actuatedand the transporting member 2 is not moved forwardly to presentimproperly located work to the tool.

Normally in each cycle of operation the rod I 22 is moved by the pawlI28 50 that control member 6 is actuated for bringing about movement ofthe transporting member 2 and as the said member 2 moves forwardly thelever I 42 moves away from the lever I84 of the valve I84 whereupon saidvalve is closed and spring moves clutch member 84 to disengage members86 and 88. This stops rotation of the cam shaft 68.

Each time the transporting member reaches its rear position the leverI84 of valve I 84 is operated so that the cam shaft is operated foroperating the various units as before described and as the transportingmember moves forwardly the cam shaft is stopped.

In this way in each cycle of operation the cam shaft is rotated and thenstopped.

It will be noted that the slide I26 operates the rod I22 and therebycontrol lever 6 only when the positioner 36 is able to perform itsfunction.

In the event the member 36 is unable to function properly and for thatreason slide I26 does not operate control member 6 the transportingmember 2 remains in its rear position so that lever, I42 would be heldopen and the cam shaft I0 would continue to operate.

To prevent continued rotation of the cam shaft when the transportingmember 2 remains in its rear position the rod I50 and plate I52 comeinto play in the following manner:

As the slide I26 moves forwardly the plate I52 thereof engages collarI54 of rod I50 which is connected to lever I42 and moves said rod I50forwardly to swing the lever I42 so that it releases the lever I84' ofvalve I84 allowing it to close. Also the movement of the rod brings co1-'7 lar l thereof forwardl ofthe free end of the pawl I'fig'lfwhichpawlholdsitherodfl against rearward movement'and'thereby lever I411is, held, against spring I it, from engaging valve 'lever '84,;

Normally the stud i368 on the transporting member in its forward andrearward movements flexes the spring I66 of the pawl and is'arranged tomove pawl I56 out of the way of the collar I56 on rearward movement.When the transporting member is stationary in its rear positionthe pawlis allowed to function forjthefiurpose described.

The valves and their cams may be arranged relatively to bring about anydesired sequence of, operations during a cycle of operation;theforegoing being intended for purpose of disclosure.

' The invention may be embodiedin other specific forms without departingfrom the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely asbeing illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather thanby theforegoing description, and all modifications and variations as fallwithin the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appendedclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired toclaim and secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates'is:

1. The combination of a machine tool having a rotatable tool and slidemovable towards and away therefrom with a swingable slide controllevertherefor and work positioning and holding means on said slidehaving actuating means therefor with separate unitary operatingmechanism therefor comprising, a frame construction, operating means forsaid control lever, a drive shaft rotatable in said frame construction,connections between said drive shaft and 'saidoperating means, a drivingmember rotatableon said drive shaft, clutch mechanism for engaging saiddrive shaft and driving member, and operating means for operating saidclutch mechanism operable by the said slide.

2. The combination of a machinetool having a rotatable tool andslidemovable towards and away therefrom with a swingable slide control levertherefor and work positioning and holding means on said slide havingactuating means therefor with separate unitary operating mech: anismtherefor comprising, a frame construction, operating means for saidcontrol lever including disengageable connections, a drive shaft rotatable in said frame construction, connections between said drive shaftand said operating means, a driving member rotatableonsaid drive shaft,clutch mechanism for engaging said drive shaft and driving member,operating means for said clutch mechanism operable by said ,slide as itmoves one direction, and means actuatedby the work holding andpositioning means for disengaging the disengageable connections.

3. The combinationof a machine tool having a rotatable tool andslidemovable; towards and away therefrom' with a swingable slide controllever therefor and work positioning and holding means on said slidehaving actuating; means therefor with separate unitary operatingmechanism therefor cQmprisingQa frameconstruction, operating means forsaid control lever, afdrive shaft rotatable in said frame construction,connections between said drive'sha'ft' and saidop'erating means, adriving member rotatable on said shaft'rot'atable', in said frameconstruction, connect'ionsf between said, drive shaft and saidoperatingfineans, 'a driving member rotatable on saidid'rivefshflaft,clutch mechanism for engagingsaid driv'e 'sha'ftfand driving member, and

' operati'n'gmeans for; operating said clutch mechanism' operable by"the said slide, saidiclutch mechanism and operating means thereforconstructed for, clutching operation as the slide moves in one directionand arranged for one cycle of operation of the said drive shaft for eachsaidrnovement of said slide.

'5.'The combination of a machine tool having a rotatable tool and slidemovable towards and away therefrom with a swingable slide control levertherefor and work positioning and holding means on said slide havingactuating means therefor with separate unitary operating mechanismtherefor comprising, a frame construction, operating means for saidcontrol lever including disengageable connections, a drive shaftrotatable in said frame construction, connectionsbetween said driveshaft and said operatingmeanfs, drivingmember rotatable on'said drive"shaft, clutch mechanism for engaging said drive shaft andclr'ivingmember, operating means for said clutch mechanism operable by said slideas it moves in onedirection, and means actuated by thef'workholding'arld positioning means for disengaging the disengageableconnections, said disengageablefconnections including a rod secured tosaid lever having a member slidable thereon which is provided with apawl engageable witha notch provided in said rod and the means forengaging and, disengaging said connections including a, m'agnet'operablyrelated to said l awl.

6Q The combination ofa machine tool having arotatable tool and slidemovable towards and away therefrom with a swingable'slide controlleverther'eforjand work positioning and holding means on said slidehaving actuating means therefor 'witli's'eparate unitary operatingmechanism therefor comprising, a frame construction, operatingmeans forsaid control lever including disengageable connections, a drive shaftrotatable 'i'n said frame construction, connections between said driveshaft and said operating means, a-drivingmember' rotatable on said driveshaft, clutch mecnamsmror' engaging said drive shaft and"dr'ivingmember, operating means for said clutch mechanism operable "by, saidslide as it moves in one direction, and means'actuated by the workholding and, positioning means for disengaging the; disengageableconnections, said clutch mechanism and operating means thereforconstructed and arranged whereby said drive shaft and driving member areengaged for operation ofsaid; shaft through one cycle of operrise, fBash, v me ibi a l d n d e 9 direction and said disengageableconnections arranged for disengagement as the said slide moves in anopposite direction.

'7. The combination of a machine tool having a rotatable tool and slidemovable towards and away therefrom with a swingable slide control levertherefor and work positioning and holding means on said slide havingactuating means therefor with separate unitary operating mechanismtherefor comprising, a frame construction, a drive shaft rotatable insaid frame construction having a drive member rotatable thereon, clutchmeans for engaging said shaft and member and operative connectionsbetween said 10 slide and clutch means operable as said slide moves inone direction whereby said shaft is rotated through the clutch mechanismfor one cycle of operation, connections between said drive shaft I andcontrol lever whereby said lever may be operated as the slide moves inone direction, disengageable means in said connections, and meansconnecting said work positioning means and disengageable means wherebythe latter may be disengaged by the former so that the control lever isnot operated as the slide moves in said one direction.

KENNETH H. POND.

